Solar-nuclear hybrid power plant

Abstract

A solar-nuclear hybrid plant includes a nuclear energy loop, a solar energy loop, and an electrical generation loop. The three loops are closed loops. The nuclear energy loop transfers energy to the electrical generation loop through a steam generator. The solar energy loop transfers energy to either the nuclear energy loop and/or the electrical generation loop through one or more heat exchangers in the appropriate loop. This cogeneration plant has higher efficiency compared to a nuclear power plant alone.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A solar-nuclear hybrid electrical generation plant, comprising:
 a nuclear energy loop including a primary fluid that runs through a nuclear reactor, a steam generator downstream of the nuclear reactor, and a primary water heater located between the nuclear reactor and the steam generator; 
 a solar energy loop including a heat transfer fluid that runs through a solar receiver and the primary water heater downstream of the solar receiver; and 
 an electrical generation loop including a secondary fluid that runs through the steam generator of the nuclear energy loop and at least one turbine downstream of the steam generator; 
 wherein heat energy is transferred from the heat transfer fluid in the solar energy loop to the primary fluid in the nuclear energy loop. 
 
     
     
       2. The plant of  claim 1 , further comprising a superheater located in the electrical generation loop between the steam generator and the at least one turbine wherein the superheater is downstream of the solar receiver in the solar energy loop. 
     
     
       3. The plant of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one turbine includes a high-pressure turbine and a low-pressure turbine downstream of the high-pressure turbine, and further comprising a reheater located in the electrical generation loop between the high-pressure turbine and the low-pressure turbine wherein the reheater is downstream of the solar receiver in the solar enery loop. 
     
     
       4. The plant of  claim 3 , wherein the primary water heater is downstream of the reheater in the solar energy loop. 
     
     
       5. The plant of  claim 4 , further comprising a preheater located in the electrical generation loop upstream of the steam generator and downstream of the at least one turbine, wherein the preheater is downstream of the primary water heater in the solar energy loop. 
     
     
       6. The plant of  claim 3 , wherein further comprising a preheater located in the electrical generation loop upstream of the steam generator and downstream of the at least one turbine, wherein the preheater is downstream of the reheater in the solar energy loop. 
     
     
       7. The plant of  claim 2 , wherein the primary water heater is downstream of the superheater in the solar energy loop. 
     
     
       8. The plant of  claim 7 , further comprising a preheater located in the electrical generation loop upstream of the steam generator and downstream of the at least one turbine, wherein the preheater is downstream of the primary water heater in the solar energy loop. 
     
     
       9. The plant of  claim 2 , further comprising a preheater located in the electrical generation loop upstream of the steam generator and downstream of the at least one turbine, wherein the preheater is downstream of the superheater in the solar energy loop. 
     
     
       10. The plant of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one turbine includes a high-pressure turbine and a low-pressure turbine downstream of the high-pressure turbine, and futher comprising a reheater located in the electrical generation loop between the high-pressure turbine and the low-pressure turbine wherein the reheater is downstream of the solar receiver in the solar energy loop. 
     
     
       11. The plant of  claim 10 , wherein the primary water heater is downstream of the reheater in the solar energy loop. 
     
     
       12. The plant of  claim 11 , further comprising a preheater located in the electrical generation loop upstream of the steam generator and downstream of the at least one turbine, wherein the preheater is downstream of the primary water heater in the solar energy loop. 
     
     
       13. The plant of  claim 10 , further comprising a preheater located in the electrical generation loop upstream of the steam generator and downstream of the at least one turbine, wherein the preheater is downstream of the reheater in the solar energy loop. 
     
     
       14. The plant of  claim 1 , further comprising a preheater located in the electrical generation loop upstream of the steam generator and downstream of the at least one turbine, wherein the preheater is downstream of the primary water heater in the solar energy loop. 
     
     
       15. The plant of  claim 1 , further comprising a preheater located in the electrical generation loop upstream of the steam generator and downstream of the at least one turbine wherein the preheater is downstream of the solar receiver in the solar energy loop. 
     
     
       16. The plant of  claim 1 , wherein the solar energy loop further comprises a cold tank and a hot tank, the hot tank being located downstream of the solar receiver and upstream of the primary water heater, and the cold tank being located upstream of the solar receiver and downstream of the primary water heater. 
     
     
       17. The plant of  claim 16 , wherein cooler heat transfer fluid from the cold tank can be mixed with hotter heat transfer fluid from the hot tank prior to sending the heat transfer fluid through the primary water heater. 
     
     
       18. The plant of  claim 1 , further comprising a pump in the nuclear energy loop located downstream of the nuclear reactor and upstream of the steam generator, and also comprising a valve downstream of the steam generator for controlling the pressure of the primary fluid entering the nuclear reactor. 
     
     
       19. A solar-nuclear hybrid electrical generation plant, comprising:
 a nuclear energy loop including a primary fluid that runs through a nuclear reactor and a steam generator downstream of the nuclear reactor; 
 a solar energy loop including a heat transfer fluid that runs through a solar receiver and two or more heat exchangers downstream of the solar receiver; and 
 an electrical generation loop including a secondary fluid that runs through the steam generator of the nuclear energy loop, a higher pressure turbine stage downstream of the steam generator, and a lower pressure turbine stage downstream of the higher pressure turbine stage; 
 wherein solar energy is transferred from the heat transfer fluid to the primary fluid or the secondary fluid through the two or more heat exchangers; and 
 wherein one of the two or more heat exchangers is a primary water heater located in the nuclear energy loop downstream of the nuclear reactor and upstream of the steam generator. 
 
     
     
       20. The plant of  claim 19 , wherein another of the two or more heat exchangers is selected from the group consisting of:
 (A) a superheater located in the electrical generation loop downstream of the steam generator and upstream of the higher pressure turbine stage; 
 (B) a reheater located in the electrical generation loop between the higher pressure turbine stage and the lower pressure turbine stage; and 
 (C) a preheater located in the electrical generation loop upstream of the steam generator and downstream of the lower pressure turbine stage.